Mail-pouch fastener.



No. 632,273. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

E. MOODY.

MAIL POUCH FASTENEB.

(Application filed Km. 17, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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NlTED STATES EDWARD MOODY, OF LANGSTON, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID M. WEBB, OF SAME PLACE.

MAIL-POUCH FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,273, dated September 5, 1899.

Serial No. 709,483. (No model.)

To coZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD MOODY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Langston, in the county of Jackson and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Mail- Pouch Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in mail-pouch fasteners.

' The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of mail-pouch fasteners and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive device adapted to enable a mail-pouch to be quickly opened and closed and capable of maintaining the same in an open position to facilitate the introduction of mail into it.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed outin the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a mail-pouch provided with a fastener constructed in accordance with this invention and shown closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the mail-pouch open. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, the parts being arranged as shown in Fig. 2.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a mail-pouch provided at its mouth with a hinged frame 2, composed of side and end bars 3 and 4 L-shaped in crosssection to provide inwardly-extending horizontal top flanges which have their ends overlapped and perforated for the reception of rivets 5 or any other suitable form of pivots. By this construction the side and end members of the frame are hinged together, and the said frame is adapted to close the mouth of the bag or pouch by folding together to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompa nying drawings, and it is also adapted to be unfolded to open the mouth of the bag, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and when the bag or pouch is open it will remain in such position, and thereby facilitate the introduction of mail into it. The vertical portions of the bars or members of the frame are cut away at their ends at 6, and they have the upper edges 7 of the pouch or bag 1 riveted or otherwise secured to their outer faces,the said upper edges being interposed between the bars and a flexible strip 8, of leather or other suitable material, which extends entirely around the exterior of the folding frame. The vertical portions of the bars or members of the folding frame are also connected at their adjacent ends by short inner flexible strips 10, riveted or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the sides and end of the frame, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. These inner and outer flexible strips form a portion of the hinged connection of the sides and ends of the frame, they strengthen the oonstruction,and they effectually close the bag or pouch at the ends of the bars or members of the folding frame.

One of the sides or members of the folding frame is provided with a swinging hasp 11, hinged to the horizontal flange at the inner edge thereof and adapted when the frame is folded to swing against the outer face of the opposite side of the frame, and it is provided with a slot for the reception of a staple 12. The staple 12, which projects through the slot 13, is adapted to be engaged by the shackle of a lock, and this arrangement will permit the form of look now in use on mail-pouches to be-employed on it.

In order to facilitate the opening and closing of the bag or-pouch, a pair of handholds or loops 14. is provided, and these loops,which are preferably flexible, are arranged at opposite sides of the frame, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The invention has the following advantages: The mail-pouch fastener,which is simple and inexpensive in construction, is strong and durable and is adapted to be quickly opened and closed. After it has been opened it will remain in such position to enable mailclerks to throw mail into it, and when it is closed it is securely locked, and the inner and outer flexible strips, which assist in hinging the members of the folding frame together, efiectually close the spaces between the V61 tical portions of the side and end bars.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacri ficing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed is I In a maihponch fastener, the hinged frame 2, composed of the side and ,end bars 3, at, L- shaped in cross-section to provide inwardlyextending horizontal top flanges, which have their ends to overlap, the vertical portions of the bars or members of the frame being cut away at their ends 6, and having the upper edges 7 of the pouch or bag riveted or otherwise secured at their outer faces, the flexible strip 8 which extends entirely around the exterior of the folding frame, and the short innor flexible strips 10 riveted or otherwise secured to the inner facesof the sides and ends of the frame, combined with the swinging hasp 11, the staple 12, and the handholds 01' loops 14 attached to the frame upon opposite sides, substantially as shown and described. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD MOODY. \Vitnesses:

J. H. MYERS, L. G. ADKINS. 

